Caleb started showing up everywhere.
Not obviously. Not in a way I could point to and say this is harassment, this is wrong, this is a man who can't let go. He was smarter than that. He showed up the way water finds cracks – slowly, persistently, filling every gap I left unguarded until I couldn't remember what dry felt like.
Tuesday: a text at 7 AM. Hey, just checking in. You seemed stressed yesterday. Wednesday: he was at my coffee shop. Different time than usual – my time, the slot I'd switched to specifically to avoid him. Coincidence. Thursday: a mutual friend mentioned Caleb had been asking about my schedule. "He's worried about you," she said, like worry was always a gift and never a weapon.
Friday: he volunteered to coach Miles's youth hockey practice.
Miles called me about it,
